Valtteri Bottas is staying at Mercedes

Bad news, gossip-mongers: the Mercedes Formula 1 team have confirmed that Valtteri Bottas is staying for another season.

F1’s summer break is often a time for rumours, as discussions about on-track action are replaced with idle gossip about who might be heading where come the end of the season. But Bottas won’t be among the transfers, quashing talk that he’ll be replaced by Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon, who’s off to Renault in 2020.

“To whom it may concern…” starts a pithy tweet from Mercedes. “He’s staying!”

“I am very happy and proud to be part of the team for a fourth season and wish to thank every team member and the board of Mercedes for their trust and belief in me,” adds Bottas.